NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lillo Brancato Jr. , an actor who appeared in `` The Sopranos , '' was acquitted of the 2005 killing an off-duty New York City police officer but found guilty of attempted burglary .

Lillo Brancato Jr. appeared on `` The Sopranos '' and played alongside Robert De Niro in `` A Bronx Tale . ''

Brancato , 32 , was also acquitted of two counts of burglary , but could face three to 15 years in prison on the attempted burglary charge . He has already served three years , according to his attorney , Joseph Tacopina .

Police officer Daniel Enchautegui , 28 , was killed trying to break up a burglary attempt at his neighbor 's house in the Bronx in December 2005 .

During the trial , Brancato said there was not a break-in . Brancato said he knew the owner of the home , and that he and friend Steven Armento , 51 , were drinking at a strip club when they decided to go hunt for valium .

Brancato told the jury that the owner , a Vietnam veteran , gave him permission to come to his house and take painkillers or other pills whenever he wanted .

Brancato admitted to breaking a window at the home , but said it was strictly because he was going through intense heroin withdrawal that night and he said he was trying to wake up his friend to get the drugs .

When Brancato and Armento entered the home , the next door neighbor -- Enchautegui -- came outside to investigate .

That 's when prosecutors said Armento shot the officer through the heart with his .357 Magnum .

Armento was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November . The jury in that trial took less than six hours to convict Armento .

Enchautegui was shot in the chest by Armento when he interrupted the alleged robbery , but managed to shoot both suspects multiple times before dying .

`` This jury spoke loud and clear , that Lillo had nothing to do with the murder of this police officer , '' Tacopina said .

Brancato appeared on six episodes of the hit HBO series `` The Sopranos '' as a wannabe mobster in 2000 . As a teen , Brancato starred alongside actor Robert De Niro in `` A Bronx Tale . ''

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Lillo Brancato Jr. played a wannabe mobster on `` The Sopranos ''

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Brancato faces up to 15 years for attempted burglary conviction

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Actor said homeowner allowed him to come and get drugs when needed

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As a teen , Brancato starred alongside actor Robert De Niro in `` A Bronx Tale ''